Department for European Policies Coordination

Department for European Policies Coordination (OKE)

The Department for European Policies Coordination (OKE) coordinates the Czech Republic’s policy in relation to the European Union, both at national and EU levels, and participates in its formulation and implementation. Within its scope of competence, it prepares mandates, instructions, and positions for meetings of EU bodies, including relevant configurations of the Council of the EU, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), other Council working bodies, the Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) mechanism, and working bodies of the European Commission and other EU institutions and agencies.

OKE:

• Ensures the functioning of the Committee for the EU and the Working Team for the EU of the Council of Economic and Social Agreement (RHSD).
• Prepares mandates for Czech representatives at meetings of the European Council and the General Affairs Council.
• Shares responsibility for the EU Multiannual Financial Framework on behalf of the Government Office.
• Acts as coordinator for EU macro-regional strategies (e.g. in connection with the Czech Republic’s participation in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region) and the EU Integrated Maritime Policy.
• In all these activities, OKE closely cooperates with ministries and other public administration bodies, as well as with non-governmental entities (e.g. the Council of Economic and Social Agreement of the Czech Republic) and foreign partners.
• Head of the Department: Ondřej Matoušek

OKE consists of three units:

Unit for Sectoral Policy Coordination - COREPER I

• Coordinates European policies within the remit of COREPER I, i.e. in the areas of employment, social policy, health, consumer protection, competitiveness and the internal market, research, space, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, fisheries, environment, education, youth, sport, and culture.
• Oversees responsibilities related to the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP).
• Head of Unit: Iva Kopečná

Unit for Sectoral Policy Coordination - COREPER II

• Coordinates European policies within the remit of COREPER II, i.e. in the areas of general affairs (including cohesion policy), economic and financial affairs (including the EU budget), foreign affairs (including defence and trade policy), and justice and home affairs.
• Prepares, in close cooperation with other units of the European Affairs Section, mandates for Czech representatives at meetings of the European Council and the General Affairs Council.
• Oversees activities related to EU macro-regional strategies and the Czech Republic’s participation in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region.
• Shares responsibility for the EU Multiannual Financial Framework on behalf of the Government Office.
• Coordinates the Czech Republic’s position within the Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) mechanism.
• Head of Unit: Lukáš Lukačovič

Secretariat of the Committee for the EU and the RHSD Working Team for the EU 

• Prepares meetings of the Committee for the EU at both government and working levels, including drafting agendas, coordinating the preparation of materials for the Chairperson, and drafting meeting minutes.
• Oversees the distribution of materials for Committee meetings and manages the interdepartmental Database of European Policies (DAP).
• Within its competence, it coordinates the implementation of the Committee’s conclusions.
• Maintains records of public consultations conducted by the European Commission.
• Prepares meetings of the Council of Economic and Social Agreement (RHSD) Working Team for the EU, including drafting agendas, distributing materials, coordinating preparation for the Chairperson, and drafting minutes.
• Head of Unit: Jan Rychlík

Secretariat: andrea.pavlikova@vlada.gov.cz; Phone: +420 296 153 530